The Road Less Traveled: IndyCar Could Be Looking At IMS For Its Season Finale In '14

Having its season finale at the IMS road course would be a first for IndyCar

Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles said that he is in favor of a "season-ending IndyCar Series race in 2014" at Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course, according to Curt Cavin of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The race would be held in "either late August or early September if details can be worked out." Miles is in favor of a finale at IMS "because it best centralizes the fan base and the promotional opportunities." The series last year ended at Auto Club Speedway, with the '11 season ending at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the '10 season ending at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, "none have drawn large crowds." IndyCar has "never ended on a road course or street course, although Champ Car did in its final season in 2007" with a race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez near Mexico City. Miles said that he is "convinced an IMS road course race can be profitable, and there will be significantly lower costs to most of the teams given that they are locally based." Cavin reports the season finale is "only part of the schedule reshaping Miles is considering." He would like to "have a package of international races, possibly grouped together at the start of the season." Miles also said that he "hopes to have at least part of his management team in place by next week." Cavin notes that could mean a deal with Derrick Walker to become the head of Hulman Racing "is imminent." Miles said that the candidates to become the "leader of Hulman & Co.'s commercial division ... is a bit more complicated." Just Marketing Int'l Founder & CEO Zak Brown "remains a possibility." But Miles noted that there are "others being considered" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/19).